The owner of Riff's Joint has no license and the owner of the Apollo Grill wanted the license for a new restaurant he would like to open on Main Street.

The hearing for Casey Douglas, the owner of the Apollo Grill, was continued because he had not filed the paperwork, Redfern said. While there are no full liquor licenses available, there are seasonal licenses, he said. Also, business owners can petition the Legislature for a special license.

The board decided on Sangar's restaurant because "it would be better for the community to open a new business, a new business opening in a storefront that was abandoned," Redfern said.

Sangar purchased the former Treydon's Bar & Grill on Union Street earlier this year. The restaurant had been closed since December of 2009.

"The way Easthampton is growing there's a lot of culture. We said this might be a good idea to have this kind of restaurant," Redfern said. "We have Italian restaurants and Chinese restaurants."

There are no Indian restaurants in the city. He said they also liked that the restaurant would have 80 seats.

Sangar said he was happy to receive the license and said he is hoping to open by April 1.